Vegan Pride: The Stuff America’s Made of

A vegan is someone who eliminates all animal products – including milk, eggs and anything that comes from an animal source – from the diet. There are many reasons you might want to consider becoming a vegan including providing benefits to animals, our environment and to your own health. Here are ten reasons that will make you think before you put another chicken leg, beef tenderloin or turkey breast in your mouth:

Cut cardiovascular disease

Whole grains like brown rice, quinoa and whole-wheat pasta as well as nuts like almonds and peanuts helps to reduce cardiovascular disease. Eating limited portions or eliminating animal products completely have been shown to help in the fight against this prevalent disease.

Fit into your skinny jeans

A result that is typical from a vegan diet is significant weight loss. Foods that generally contribute to obesity are in the animal product family, so omitting these foods will help keep a healthy figure.

Live long enough to be a grandma or grandpa

Research has shown that following the rules of a vegan diet contribute to a longer, healthier life. To be exact, researchers say that you can add an extra six years onto your lifespan if you follow such a diet.

Steer clear of mercury

Most fish have traces – some with alarming levels – of mercury. Mercury has been blamed for brain and kidney damage, nervous and digestive system damage and adverse effects on developing fetuses.

Be an animal lover

Animals are brutally treated and then executed before they become dinner. Let your conscience rest easily by removing animal products from your daily fare.

Be environmentally friendly

Animal agriculture is not an efficient way to produce food since feed for farm animals depends on water, land and other resources that could be used for producing human food instead. In result, the earth reaps its devastating effects.

Hormone overload

Animals are given hormones to speed their growth. And where do you think those hormones are ending up? In your body! If you consume these animals, you are ingesting the hormones they were given which, research shows, is bad news. Many of these hormones are thought to cause tumor growth in humans.

Alleviate allergies

Vegans report fewer allergy symptoms like runny noses and congestion than carnivores. Excluding dairy, meat and eggs might help ease your pesky allergy issues.

Reduce America’s medical costs

Meat consumption attributes to approximately $45 billion per year in total medical costs in the United States. Why? The answer is simple: those who consume animal products show higher rates of hypertension, heart disease, cancer and diabetes. Makes you want to skip that double whopper, doesn’t it?

Reduce cholesterol

Studies show that legumes – a power food that vegans routinely eat opposed to meat eaters – lower blood cholesterol levels. Nuts, for example, are rich in monounsaturated fat, vitamins and minerals that are important for good health.